LIFE is stirring behind the hoardings surrounding the rebirth of the heart of Manchester.

Building work on the new é150m Arndale Centre development has passed another landmark with the completion, in just eight months, of the space which will house Britain's biggest Next store.

Fitting it out will take another 12 months, but it should open in time for Christmas next year.

The northern half of the Arndale Centre was razed to the ground before builders Bovis brought in the scaffolding and started building in restricted and difficult circumstances.

They were hampered by the fact that the other half of the shopping mall was thriving only the width of a wall away - and the fact that the project sits on top of the city centre's massive electricity sub station, where one careless error could have plunged all of Manchester into darkness.

Project manager Peter Millett said: "I am proud of all that has been achieved so far. It was made possible by extremely careful planning carried out well in advance."

When the whole development has been completed it will make up 1.4 million square feet of retail space, the largest in-town shopping area in Britain.

A huge glass roof will allow natural light to flood into a giant hall below with restaurants and places for people to meet built around the hall.

"It will serve a social function, like the old Arndale did, but in much better surroundings," said Jon Weymouth, director of development for owners Prudential.